Pressure regulator



June 13, 1944. A. D. KRUGLER PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed .my 1o, 1941 INVENTOR ALLEN D KRUGLER BY M' TTORNE Patented .lune 13, 1944 UNITED STATES PAIENTg ortica PRESSURE BEGULATR Y Allen D. Krugler, Pontiac, Mieli., assigner to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of lDelappncauen July 1o, 1941, serial No. 401,849

s claims. (ci. sti-23) This invention relates to means for controlling and distributing fuel gas to consuming appliances from tanks or portable containers of liqueied hydrocarbon gas or the like. More particularly it relates to an improved self-indicat- 'ing pressure regulator for an automatic fuel gas is still supplying the-system.

Still other objects and advantages ofthis invention will 'be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,y

forming ay part of this specification, and in which: l

Figure 1 is a general schematic view showing the sequence' of units; and

Figure 2 is a vertical section through one of lthe self indicating high `pressure regulators.

Referring now more particularly to Figure l, it will be seen that the high pressure regulators, illustrated generally by the numerals 9 9', are adapted to be connected to containers, not shown, of fuel gas. By means of the regulators 2 9', the pressure of the fuel gas is reduced to some suitable pressure, such as ten to fifteen pounds per square inch, at which pressure it is delivered by exible conduits 42-42 to an automatic change-over device I8, and thence through a second-stage regulator 43 to a service line at some lower pressure, as ten or twelve inches water column. The changeover valve I8, of any known design, automatically changes thewithdrawal to' 'the alternate-source Awhen the initial source becomes exhausted.

Since applicant's first stage regulators 9-.9' A

are Asimilar in design, and operation only one will be described in detail for the sake of brevity. The iirst stage regulator 9 comprises a body memberl III, Figure 2, having a central bore II extending part way through and terminating in a smaller bore I2 which extends through the remainder of the body member. Bore II is inhollow nipple I3.

ternally threaded to engage the upper end of a Sleeve I4 surrounding the nipple is externally threaded and adapted to engage in a tap plug or closure member of a fuel container, making a pressure tight engagement therewith between the regulator and the container. Slidably mounted within the nipple is a pushpin I5 adapted to unseat a valve in the container, allowing the gas to ow through the interior of the nipple. A stem on the upper end of push-pin I5 extends through bore i2 and contacts the under side of diaphragm l. This connection between the container and regulator is not further shown or described being well known in the art and one type beingr generallydescribed in the S. Patent No. 2,172,311, issued to R. W. Thomas, September 5, 1939.

Passage Il has its outer end internally threaded to receive a connecting pipe or hose i2 from one side of the contro1 valve,lindicated generally by the numeral l 8, Figure 1, and extends through body member I0 terminating in its upper interior face with a raised outlet portion HA.

An annular shoulder iQ projects from the upper end of the body member and is externally threaded as at 2Q, to engage threads on the lower end of the hollow housing membel` 2l. This housing is constructed with an interior wall- 22 integral therewith and with a circular projecting member 23 extending therefrom. A glass window 24 closes the end of this member, being, ntted into an annular groove, and held in place by a sealing ring 25 or any other suitable means. In this way an inspection'port is provided for a purpose hereinafter described.

Extending through interior wall 22 and pivotally mounted thereon at 26, is an indicating arm 21- adapted to be raised and lowered through contact with the walls of rectangular slot 28A of spring cup 28. This cup is of smaller diameter than the interior of housing member 2I and slid-'- ably mounted within so as to engage the shorter end of arm 2l. A coil spring 29 is fitted withinA ber I0 and housing 2|. being clamped in place diaphragm i8. 'Movement of diaphragm i6 is aesinet thus controlled by the pressure of the gas on its lower side and by the force exerted by spring 2% in cup 28 on its upper side, which force acts through pushpin I5 to operate the container closure or valve. the regulators 9-9' is controlled and maintained l substantially constant in a manner well known.

in the art. When pressure under the diaphragm fails, the diaphragm drops down and seals on raised outlet portion 11A, so that the regulator 9 may be disconnected from the empty tank withoutany back-now leakage from the other (stili connected). This movement or the diaphragm is transmitted to cup 2l and in turn to arm 2l. Thus it will beseen that as long as gas under pressure is iowing through'the regulator, arm 2l will so indicate. When the source connected to regulator 9 is exhausted, spring 28 will force A the diaphragm down to its lowest position, and

arm 21 will be. raised to so indicate. The position oi arm 21 is always visible to the consumer through window 2A, then with suitable marking on window 24, it will be apparent from the position of the arm whether or not the supply connected to regulator 9 is exhausted. In this wai' the supplies connected to regulators 9-9' may be checked.

While applicant has described a specinc embodiment, it is to b e understood that the form of this invention, herewith shown and described, is a preferred example only and that various modifications may be made therein without materially departing from the spirit of the invention as defined bythe appended claims. Y

`Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. For use in'a liquefied petroleum gas dispensing system which includes a tank of gas under pressure having a 4thrust-operated outlet valve serving as a closure therefor, an improved regulater-indicator comprising in combination a body, a diaphragm separating said body into two compartments, 'the diaphragm having a central portion mounted for movement axially of the diaphragm, an inlet and an outlet formed in the walls of one of said compartments whereby the gas under pressure urgesthe diaphragm in one direction, said inlet establishing pressure-tight communication with the interior of said tank, a thrust -member Vslidably. mounted in said inlet Thus the pressure delivered by tion mounted for movement axially of the diaphragm, and inlet and an outlet formed in the walls of one of said compartments whereby the gas under pressure urges the diaphragm in one direction, said inlet establishing pressure-tight communication with the interior of said tank, a thrust member slidably mounted in said inlet operable by said central portion of said diaphragm to control said tank outlet valve, a hollow cupshaped member slidably mounted in the other of saidl compartments and having a slot in the side wall thereof andl operatively engaged with said diaphragm, the body or the cup-shaped member forming a wall of the slot a chosen distance from the portion engaged with the diaphragm, a regulator spring received within said cup whereby the spring urges the diaphragm against said gas under pressure, a semaphore arm pivotally mounted within the housing having one end extending into said slot and engaged by the wall thereof as the cup-shaped member is moved in one direction whereby pivoting movement of the semaphore arm occurs upon said movement of said cup-shaped member, said body having an integral lateral-extension and an inspection port at the end of said extension to indicate visually the position of the semaphore arm, and thereby the known related position of the diaphragm.

3. For use in aliquefied petroleum gas dispensing system which includes a tank ot gas under pressure having a thrust-operated outlet valve serving as a closure therefor, an improved regulator-indicator comprising in combination a body, a diaphragm separating said body into two diaphragm, an inlet and an outlet formed in the operable by said central portion of said diaphragm to control said tank outlet valve, a. hollow cup-shaped member slidably mounted in the other of said compartments and having a slot in the side wall thereof and operatively engaged with said diaphragm. the body of the cup-shaped member forming a wall of the slot a chosen distance from the portion engaged 'with the dlaphragm. a regulator spring received within saidl cup whereby the spring urges thediaphragm against said gas under pressure, a semaphore arm pivotally mounted within the housing having one` end4 extending into said slot and engaged by the wall thereof as the cup-shaped member is moved in one direction -whereby pivoting movement of the semaphore. arm occurs `upon y. said movement of said cup-shaped member and an inspection port opposite the-other end of said arm indicate visually theposition ot the semawalls loi! one of said compartments .whereby the gas under pressure urges the diaphragm in one direction, said inlet establishing pressure-tight communication withthe interior of said tank, a thrust member slidabiy mounted in said inlet operable by said central portion of said diaphragm to control said tank outlet valve., n. hollow cupshaped member slidably. mounted in the other of said compartments and having a closed slot in the .side wall thereof and operatively engaged with said diaphragm. the body of the cup-shaped member forming a wall of the slot a chosen distance from the portion engaged with the dii'.-4

phragm, va. regulator spring received within said cup whereby the spring urges the diaphragm against said gas under pressure, a semaphore arm pivotally mounted within thel housing having one end extending into .said slot and engaged by the wall thereof as the cup-shaped member is moved in one direction whereby pivoting Y movement of the semaphore arm occurs upon said movement of said cup-shaped member and an inspection port opposite the other end oi' said arm to indicate visually the position of. the sem-.-

aphore arm, and thereby the known related posi- Armnrmuarm. y

tion of the diaphragm. 

